Popular Rossini Festival will remain on Gay Street

A popular spring festival in downtown Knoxville will not bemoving after all.

On Wednesday, Knoxville Mayor Madeline Rogero and Knoxville Opera leaders announced the Rossini Festival and International Street Fair will remain on Gay Street.

The free festival started in 2001 and it's grown larger each year. Leaders had planned to move it to Henley Street next year because of the increase in commercial and residential activity on Gay Street. But they worked out an agreement with the city to stay in place.

"We felt like with the response of the staff and meeting the needs of our public safety officers and some operational issues, we were able to come to an agreement that will allow the festival to stay here and we're very excited about that," said Knoxville Mayor Madeline Rogero.

Next year's Rossini Festival is set for Saturday, April 12th from 11 am to 9 pm. The Street Fair typically includes four outdoor entertainment stages, a children's fun zone and more than 100 booths.